Concerts show Welland a ‘rock-and-roll town’
The amplifiers and stage lights from the Concerts on the Canal series have been turned off for another year.
The 10-show schedule started in June and saw its final song performed for 2018 by My Son the Hurricane, a large Niagara-based collective of musicians that plays its own brand of funk.
Amanda MacDonald, executive director of the Welland Downtown BIA, said the response from the community has been “overwhelmingly enthusiastic” and that many people wished another concert or two followed last week’s finale.
“Welland is a rock-and-roll town,” she said. Plenty of consideration is put into booking bands and singers in the time leading up to the kickoff concert. A diverse mix of performers who are available throughout the itinerary of weekly shows at Merritt Park’s floating stage is the ultimate goal.
“It’s really a three- to four-month hunt to track down artists,” said MacDonald.
The opening act at every event is always a local musician.
Destroyer Canada, a KISS cover band, is being touted as the biggest hit of the summer series.
“That’s our heart and soul kind of music,” said MacDonald about Welland’s taste in tunes.
She also said Desire, a U2 cover band, headlined one of the more successful nights. Pink Floyd Niagara’s performance on Canada Day also drew a huge crowd, she said.
The BIA receives $40,000 from the municipality for the concerts, as well as another $25,000 worth of in-kind services from the public works and recreation and culture departments.
About $25,000 in fundraising from the community also helps make the concerts possible.
The BIA took over the series four years ago after it was hosted by other organizations in the past.